St. John’s is wearing down under the brutal competition that is the Big East. The turnovers are mounting, shots are coming up short and communication breakdowns on defense are increasing.

With a fading record of 7-9, one could say there’s not much reason to watch the Red Storm. But anyone who’s seen them play knows that Norm Roberts has been true to his word: His teams play hard because New Yorkers expect an honest effort.

St. John’s has won more games than it did last season. With a win today over Seton Hall (9-7, 1-4) in the Garden, St. John’s can double its league total of last season. Recruits are starting to consider St. John’s. Fans are beginning to feel proud. And the players, even the ones who rarely play, say Roberts has got this program going in the right direction.

St. John’s almost didn’t land the Queens native, whose raspy voice is Lou Carnesecca-like. Before agreeing to take the St. John’s job, the former Kansas assistant backed away from an opportunity to become SMU’s coach.

“I don’t think he did it because of St. John’s,” Kansas coach Bill Self told The Post. “I think he did it because he didn’t feel it. He wanted to be at a place where he felt it and people had the same goals and commitment that he did.”

How’s this for commitment? Last Saturday, when the winter’s first blizzard pelted the Northeast, Roberts’ wife, Pascale, drove down to Philadelphia to watch the Jayhawks lose to Villanova. Then, despite her husband’s wishes, she drove back to New York to catch the second half of the Red Storm’s loss to Boston College.

Self, Roberts and their families remain close friends. If the strain of the first season coaching a team with just eight scholarship players is wearing on Roberts, it doesn’t show. Self’s final words of wisdom, to Roberts before he took the St. John’s job, are a source of reassurance.

“The biggest thing that I told him is, ‘There’s no free lunch, there’s no short cuts,’ ” said Self. “There’s a reason why you got this job. Embrace the reason why you got this job and build it the way you want to build it but take you time.

“The other thing that I told him was, ‘Don’t get discouraged because you’re going to take one step forward and get knocked back two steps,’ ” continued Self. ” ‘Stay the course. You knew going in what it was going to be like, so don’t act surprised when it’s like you thought it would be.’ “

One step forward, two steps back. Since upsetting Pittsburgh, St. John’s lost to BC and Georgetown. Self said Roberts has made rebuilding St. John’s his mandate.

“It was a great opportunity,” said Self, “but it also was a huge responsibility to the people there and the people in New York City.”